Deiro Gonzalez, 74, has spent two decades living in a pagadiario in Bogota, witnessing the deaths of four men, including Mr. Salgar. Without family or a pension, he shares a room to afford rent. The pagadiarios house approximately 4,500 marginalized individuals in the city's Santa Fe neighborhood, a stark contrast to its affluent past. The District Department of Social Integration has begun registering these residents, emphasizing that recognition as citizens is essential for social inclusion. This reality illustrates the battle both for survival and acknowledgment faced by these individuals in a city that has changed dramatically over time.
Deiro Gonzalez highlights that the harsh reality of life in pagadiarios includes losing fellow residents with no mourners, emphasizing the loneliness felt by those living there.
The social status of those living in pagadiarios in Bogota has deteriorated, with the buildings once housing the wealthy now occupied by some of the city’s most marginalized.
The alarming statistic of 4,500 people living in pagadiarios in Bogota underlines the urgency for social programs aimed at inclusion and support for these vulnerable populations.
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